Draft Basic Assessment Report

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF NATURE ESTATE FOR LEISURE PURPOSES AND A LODGE, LOCATED NORTH OF KOMATIPOORT TOWN IN MPUMALANGA PROVINCE

January 2021 Prepared by:

Contents Acronyms and abbreviations ...... iv GLOSSARY OF TERMS ...... v SECTION A: ACTIVITY INFORMATION ...... 1 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...... 1 2. FEASIBLE AND REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES ...... 2 3. SITE ACCESS ...... 5 4. LOCALITY MAP ...... 5 5. LAYOUT/ ROUTE PLAN ...... 5 6. SENSITIVITY MAP ...... 5 7. SITE PHOTOGRAPHS ...... 5 8. FACILITY ILLUSTRATION ...... 5 9. ACTIVITY MOTIVATION ...... 5 10. APPLICABLE LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND/OR GUIDELINES ...... 6 11. WASTE AND EFFLUENT ...... 12 SECTION B: SITE/AREA/PROPERTY DESCRIPTION ...... 14 12. GROUNDWATER, SOIL AND GEOLOGICAL STABILITY OF THE SITE ...... 14 13. GROUNDCOVER ...... 15 14. SURFACE WATER...... 15 15. LAND USE CHARACTER OF SURROUNDING AREA ...... 16 16. CULTURAL/HISTORICAL FEATURES ...... 16 17. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTER ...... 16 18. BIODIVERSITY ...... 17 19. VISUAL ...... 24 SECTION C: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ...... 25 1. ADVERTISEMENT AND NOTICE ...... 25 2. DETERMINATION OF APPROPRIATE MEASURES ...... 25 3. ISSUES RAISED BY INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTIES ...... 25 4. COMMENTS AND RESPONSE REPORT ...... 26 5. AUTHORITY PARTICIPATION ...... 26 6. CONSULTATION WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ...... 26 SECTION D: IMPACT ASSESSMENT ...... 26 1. IMPACTS THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE PLANNING AND DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATIONAL ...... 26 2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ...... 35 SECTION E. RECOMMENDATION OF PRACTITIONER ...... 37 SECTION F: APPENDIXES ...... 39

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURE ESTATE FOR LEISURE PURPOSES I

List of Appendices Appendix A: Maps A.1: Locality Map A.2: Layout Map A.3: Sensitivity Map

Appendix B: Photographs

Appendix C: Facility illustration(s)

Appendix D: Specialist reports D.1: Geotechnical Report D.2: Riparian and Wetland Report D.3: Heritage Report D.4: Ecology Report D.5: Visual Report

Appendix E: Public Participation

Appendix F: Environmental Management Programme (EMPr)

Appendix G: Impact Assessment

Appendix H: Details of EAP and expertise

Appendix I: Specialist’s declaration of interest

Appendix J: Additional Information J.1: Fossil Finds Procedure J.2: Services Report

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURE ESTATE FOR LEISURE PURPOSES II

Foreword This report constitutes the Draft Basic Assessment Report, and has been circulated digitally for Stakeholder Comment on 28 January 2021. NuLeaf Planning and Environmental would like to thank all Stakeholders for their participation and input into this process to date, and hereby invite Stakeholders to review this draft report and to provide feedback, input, concerns and comments. All written comments received, including NuLeaf’s response to each, will be captured in a Comments and Responses Register, which will be made available to all I&AP’s and included in the Final Basic Assessment Report for submission to the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA). All comments on the Draft BAR must be in writing and must reach NuLeaf by no later than close of business on 1 March 2021. Please mark all correspondence for the attention of: Bryony van Niekerk Email: [email protected] Tel: 074 818 9788 Fax: (086) 571 6292

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURE ESTATE FOR LEISURE PURPOSES III

Acronyms and abbreviations

BA: Basic Assessment BAR: Basic Assessment Report CBA: Critical Biodiversity Area CMP: Construction Management Plan DARDLEA: Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs DWS: South African National Department of Water and Sanitation EA: Environmental Authorisation ECO: Environmental Control Officer EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment EMPr: Environmental Management Programme EMS: Environmental Management System EO: Environmental Officer I&AP: Interested and Affected Party IDP: Integrat